Mary.

Fifthly, how is it to be thought that any woman, going to such a sharp punishment of fire to be consumed, would let for any worldly A.D. shame to rescue her own life from so bitter torment, at least so long 1556. as she might besides the safeguard also of her child, if by any means The fifth. she had known any remedy?

sixth.

Sixthly, forsomuch as master Harding doth so heinously charge her The with the wilful murdering of her own natural child, let all indifferent consciences this consider with themselves, what was the cause that moved her so willingly to recant as she did, but partly to save her own life, and especially the poor innocent? Whereby it is manifest to be understood, what a motherly affection she had to save her infant, if the fathers of the spiritualty had not been so cruel, against all order of law to cast both her and her child away, all this her said recantation notwithstanding.

seventh.

Seventhly and lastly, when master Harding hath inveighed all that The ever he can against this poor Perotine, yet is all the same but a byematter from this principal purpose pretended, supposing thereby through his depraving of her, to justify and excuse the pope's holy clergy, which wrought her death. Which will not be; for whatsoever her life was besides, yet forsomuch as the cause of her death and condemnation was neither for theft, whoredom, nor murder, but only and merely for religion, which deserved no death; I therefore having in my story no further to deal, as I said before, so do I say again, that the cause of her condemning was wrongful, her death was cruel, the sight of the babe was rueful, the proceeding of the judges was unlawful, the whole story is pitiful, and of all this the priest and clergy were the authors principal. All which being considered, and well expended, master Harding, I trust, may stand sufficiently contented. Or if he think murder to be a thing which ought not (as it ought not indeed) lightly to be passed over, let him then find out murder where it is, and tell us truly, without affection of partiality, where the true murder lieth; whether in the poor woman, which together with her child was murdered, or in them which, without all law and conscience. brought them both to death.

clusion of

Briefly, and finally, to conclude with this man; whatsoever the The conwoman was, she is now gone. To bite so bitterly against the dead this is little honesty. And though the accusation had in it some truth, defence. yet this accusation here needed not. Now the same being false, it is too much unmerciful. At least, being doubtful and to him unknown, charity would have judged the best. Humanity would have spared the dead. And if he could not afford her his good word, yet he might have left her cause unto the Lord, which shall judge both her and him. To pray for the dead, he findeth in his mass; but to backbite the dead, he neither findeth in his mass, matins, nor even-song. And no doubt but in his dirige and commendations he commendeth many a one, less deserving to be commended than this woman, let catholic affection be set aside. And though the merits of her cause deserved not his commendations, yet did she never deserve this at master Harding's hand to give her such a Kyrie eleison (as they say) after her departure. Cruelty she suffered enough alive, though master Harding had not added this cruel invective to her former afflictions: wherein notwithstanding he hurteth not her, but hurteth peradventure

A. D. own.

Mary. himself; neither so much distaineth her honesty as he blemisheth his It hath been the manner of learned men in time past, with 1556. their defending oration ever to be more ready, than to accuse. And if they did at any time accuse, yet never but enforced; neither did they accuse any but such only as were alive, and that neither but in such matters wherein either the commonwealth or themselves were vehemently touched.

Exhorta

tion to

Now if this grieve him so greatly, that in my story I have termed her to be a martyr, let him consider the cause wherefore she suffered, which was neither for felony, murder, nor whoredom, but only for the religion in king Edward's time received; and when he hath confuted that religion, I shall cross her out of the book and fellowship of martyrs. In the mean time my exhortation shall be this to master Harding:

First, that if he will needs become a writer in these so furious and Harding. Outrageous days of ours, he will season his vein of writings with more mildness and charity, and not give such example of railing to others.

Murder

in the

clergy

noted.

Secondly, that he will moderate his judging and condemning of others with more equity and indifferency, and not to be so rash and partial. For if she be to be accounted a murderer, which so carefully went about by recantation to save both herself and her child from the fire, what is to be said of them which condemned her so cruelly, and caused both her and the infant to be burned, notwithstanding that she, for safeguard of their lives had (as I said) recanted. And yet so partial is he, that in all this invective, crying out so intemperately against the woman and the child that were burned, he speaketh never a word of their condemners and true murderers indeed.

Thirdly, forsomuch as master Harding is here in hand with infantispiritual cide, and with a casting away young children's lives, I would wish, that as he hath sifted the doings of this woman to the uttermost, who was rather murdered than a murderer; so he would with an indifferent eye look on the other side a little, upon them of his own clergy, and see what he could find there, amongst those wilful contemners of immaculate marriage. Not that I do accuse any of incontinency, whose lives I know not, but there is One above that well knoweth and seeth all things, be they never so secret to man, and most certainly will pay home at length with fire and brimstone, when he seeth his time.

I say no more, and not so much as I might; following herein the painters, which when their colours will not serve to express a thing that they mean, they shadow it with a veil. But howsoever the matter goeth with them, whether they may or may not be suspected touching this crime aforesaid of infanticide; most sure and manifest it is, that they are more than worthily to be accused of homicide, in murdering the children and servants of God, both men and women, wives and maids, old and young, blind and lame, mad and unmad, discreet. and simple innocents, learned with the unlearned, and that of all degrees, from the high archbishop to the clerk and sexton of the church, and that most wrongfully and wilfully; with such effusion of innocent christian blood, as crieth up daily to God for vengeance. And therefore master Harding, in my mind, should do well to

(1) God knoweth what spilling and murdering of infants there is in the world.

spare a little time from these his invectives, wherewith he appeacheth Mary. the poor Protestants of murder, whom they have murdered them- A. D. selves, and exercise his pen with some more fruitful matter, to exhort 1556. these spiritual fathers first to cease from murdering of their own children, to spare the blood of innocents, and not to persecute Christ so cruelly in his members as they do and furthermore, to exhort in like manner these Agamists,' and wilful rejecters of matrimony, to take themselves to lawful wives, and not to resist God's holy ordinance, nor encounter his institution with another contrary institution of their own devising, lest perhaps they, prevented by fragility, may fall into danger of such inconveniences above touched, which if they be not in them, I shall be glad; but if they be, it is neither their railing against the poor Protestants, nor yet their secret auricular confession, that shall cover their iniquities from the face of the Lord, when he shall come to reveal "abscondita tenebrarum, et judicare sæculum per ignem."

And thus, for lack of further leisure, I end with master Harding; having no more at this time to say unto him, but wish him to fear God, to embrace his truth, to remember himself, and to surcease from this uncharitable railing and brawling, especially against the dead, which cannot answer him; or if he will needs continue still to The part be such a vehement accuser of others, yet that he will remember what belongeth to the part of a right accuser: first, that his accusation be true; secondly, that no blind affection of partiality be mixt withal: thirdly, whosoever taketh upon him to carp and appeach the crimes of others, ought themselves to be sincere and upright, and to see what may be written in their own foreheads.

Whoredom and murder be grievous offences, and worthy to be accused. But to accuse of murder the parties that were murdered, and to leave the other persons untouched which were the true murderers,2 it is the part of an accuser, which deserveth himself to be accused of partiality. As verily I think by this woman, that if she had been a catholic papist, and a devout follower of their church, as she was a protestant, she had neither been condemned then alive of them, nor now accused, being dead, of master Harding. But God forgive him, and make him a good man, if it be his will!

Three Martyrs burned at Grinstead, in Susser.

Near about the same time that these three women with the infant were burnt at Guernsey, suffered other three likewise at Grinstead in Sussex, two men and one woman; the names of whom were Thomas Dungate, John Foreman, and Mother Tree, who for righteousness sake gave themselves to death and torments of the fire, patiently abiding what the furious rage of man could say or work against them; at the said town of Grinstead ending their lives, the 18th of the said month of July, and in the year aforesaid.

(1) Agamista, of ayapos, which signifieth men unmarried, or against marriage.

(2) "O cruel papists, that ever such a foul murder upon earth should be committed. The Lord himself will avenge it no doubt to your perpetual shame, although in this world the complaint was not greatly regarded, nor the cause condignly pondered, nor the cruel murder as yet revenged. Thus these three good and godly women, with the poor infant ended their lives, unjustly condemned, and cruelly murdered by the bloody, furious, and fiery papists." See Edition 1563, page

1544.-ED.

of a true accuser.

Mary.

A. D. The Burning and Martyrdom of Thomas Moor, a simple Innocent, in the Town of Leicester.

1556.

Moor examined

before the bishop.

His condemna

tion and

As the bloody rage of this persecution spared neither man, woman, nor child, wife nor maid, lame, blind nor cripple; and so through all men and women, as there was no difference either of sex or age considered, so neither was there any condition or quality respected of any person, but whosoever he were, that held not as they did on the pope, and sacrament of the altar, were he learned or unlearned, wise or simple innocent, all went to the fire, as may appear by this simple poor creature and innocent soul, named Thomas Moor, retained as a servant to a man's house in the town of Leicester, about the age of twenty-four, and, after, in manner of a husbandman; who, for speaking certain words, that his Maker was in heaven, and not in the pix, was thereupon apprehended in the country, being with his friends; who coming before his ordinary, first was asked, whether he did not believe his Maker there to be (pointing to the high altar): which he denied. Then asked the bishop, "How then," said he, " dost thou believe?" The young man answered again: As his creed did teach him. To whom the bishop said, "And what is yonder that thou seest above the altar?" He answering said, "Forsooth I cannot tell what you would have me to see. I see there fine clothes, with golden tassels, and other gay gear hanging about the pix: what is within I cannot see."

66

Why, dost thou not believe," said the bishop, "Christ to be there, flesh, blood, and bone ?" 'No, that I do not," said he.

66

Whereupon the ordinary, making short with him, read the sentence, and so condemned the true and faithful servant of Christ to death, in martyr St. Margaret's church in Leicester; who was burnt, and suffered a joyful and glorious martyrdom, for the testimony of righteousness, in the same town of Leicester, the year of our Lord above mentioned, 1556, about the 26th of June.1

The

church.

To this Thomas Moor, we have also annexed the answers and examination of one John Jackson, before Dr. Cook, one of the Commissioners, for that it belongeth much unto the same time.

The Examination of John Jackson, had before Dr. Cook, the 11th day of March, anno 1556.

First, when I came before him, he railed on me, and called me heretic. I answered and said, "I am no heretic."

་་

"Yes," quoth he: "for master Read told me, that thou wast the rankest heretic of all them in the King's Bench." I said, I knew him not. "No?"

quoth he: "yes, he examined thee at the King's Bench." I answered him, and said, "He examined five others, but not me."

"Then answer me," quoth he, "what sayest thou to the blessed sacrament of the altar? tell me.' I answered, "It is a diffuse question, to ask me at the first dash, you promising to deliver me."

"What a heretic is this!" quoth he. I said, "It is easier to call a man heretic, than to prove him one."

Then said he, "What church art thou of?" "What church?" quoth I; "I am of the same church that is builded on the foundation of the prophets and the apostles, Jesus Christ being the head corner stone."

(1) Ex Regist. Episc. Lincoln.

"Thou art a heretic," quoth he. "Yea," quoth I: "how can that be, seeing Mary. that I am of that church? I am sure that you will not say that the prophets and apostles were heretics."

A. D.

"No," quoth he; "but what sayest thou to the blessed sacrament of the altar 1556. again? tell me." I answered him, and said, "I find it not written." "No?" The saquoth he: "keeper, away with him."

Yet I tarried there long, and did talk with him, and I said, Sir, I can be content to be tractable, and obedient to the word of God."

He answered and said to me, that I knew not what the word of God meant, nor yet whether it were true or not. I answered, and said to him, "Yea, that I do."

Whereby?" quoth he. "Hereby," said I.

"Our Saviour Christ saith, Search the Scriptures, for in them you think to have eternal life. For they be they that testify of me.'

“This is a wise proof," quoth he. "Is it so?" quoth I: "what say you then to these words that the prophet David said, Whatsoever he be that feareth the Lord, he will show him the way that he hath chosen: his soul shall dwell at ease, and his seed shall possess the land. The secrets of the Lord are among them that fear him, and he showeth them his covenant?" "

"Well," quoth he, "you shall be rid shortly one way or other."

Then said I to him, "My life lieth not in man's hands; therefore no man shall do more unto me than God will suffer him."

"No?" quoth he: " thou art a stubborn and naughty fellow."

"You cannot so judge of me," quoth I, "except you did see some evil by me." "No?" quoth he: "why may not I judge thee, as well as thou and thy fellows judge us, and call us papists?"

"Why," quoth I, "that is no judgment: but Christ saith, me, and receive not my word, you have one that judgeth you. I have spoken unto you now, shall judge you in the last day.'

'If you refuse
The word that

crament of the altar.

of the

"I pray thee tell me, who is the head of the congregation?" I answered Head and said, "Christ is the head." "But who is head in earth?" I said, "Christ hath members here in earth." church. "Who are they?" quoth he. They," quoth I, "that are ruled by the

word of God."

"You are a good fellow," quoth he. "I am that I am," quoth I. Then he said to my keeper," Have him to prison again.”

with that," quoth I; and so we departed.

"I am contented

The

I answered no further in this matter, because I thought he should not have my blood in a corner. But I hope in the living God, that when the time shall come, before the congregation I shall shake their building after another manner of fashion. For they build but upon the sand, and their walls be daubed with untempered mortar, and therefore they cannot stand long. Therefore, good building brothers and sisters, be of good cheer: for I trust in my God, I and my other of the papists be prison-fellows shall go joyfully before you, praising God most heartily, that we but daubare counted worthy to be witnesses of his truth. I pray you accept my simple ed walls. answer, at this time, committing you unto God.

Of this John Jackson, besides these his foresaid answers and examination before Dr. Cook, one of the commissioners, no more as yet came unto our hands.

THE EXAMINATION OF JOHN NEWMAN, MARTYR, WHICH IS TO
BE REFERRED TO HIS STORY BEFORE.2

John Newman was first apprehended in Kent, dwelling in the town of Maidstone, and there was examined before Dr. Thornton,3 suffragan, and others, at Tenterden. From thence he was brought to Bonner, and there condemned with master Denley and Packingham, and burned at Saffron Walden, as is before storied. But because

(1) Although they call you papists, yet they judge you not to death. (2) See vol. vii. p. 328.-ED. (3) This suffragan bishop is called "Thornden" by some writers. See Wharton's Observations on Strype's Memorials of Cranmer, p. 257.-ED.